Wendy Wu Tours launched its 2019-2020 collection as it marked its 20th anniversary in London last night, bringing South America to its full customer base for the first time.
The destination specialist has offered South America only to past customers for the last two years but now is opening up the destination after what it described as its most successful year ever.
To help agent partners sell its full collection of tours, Wendy Wu has produced an Asia and South America ‘complete collection’ brochure for the first time alongside its dedicated individual country brochures.
In total 20 new tours have added to the programme in its heartland destinations of China, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia and Indonesia is being brought into the programme following the introduction of Borneo last year.
Wendy Wu has also frozen prices for many of its tours at 2018 levels.
Jonathan Wilson, product director at Wendy Wu, said: “I think this amazing for our agent partners. I would love our agents to rack all our brochures but if you are going to have one, have one with all our product in. We have 20 new tours for 2019 but we also have something old which is a lot of tours at 2018 prices.”
In 2019-2020, Wendy Wu will build on strong growth in India and Sri Lanka which Wilson said has seen it become one of the largest operators to the sub-continent in the UK. The programme features five new itineraries ranging from 10 to 22 nights including north and south India and Nepal.
The operator has added Solo tours to its range of styles which also include Classic, upmarket Exclusive, Active, Flexible, and off the beaten track Go Beyond.
In total six solo tours are offered in China, Japan, Vietnam and Cambodia and India with no single supplement and single rooms guaranteed.
John Warr, global sales director, said: “We’ve seen outstanding growth across Asia making 2018 a record-breaking year for revenue and passenger numbers, the best in our 20-year history.
“Bookings have soared, largely driven by our superior business class upgrades and VIP home transfers. We’ve seen a substantial spike in travel to Japan, India and South America this year as well as considerable growth in solo travel.
“Over the years our collection has grown exponentially and so for the first time we’re launching a new definitive guide called ‘The Complete Collection’ featuring the best travel experiences across Asia and South America. It’s the ultimate guide to the best in travel all compiled in an easy-to-use informative and stylish format.”
Warr added that Wendy Wu continues to invest in supporting the trade having doubled the field sales team to meet increased demand for training and events.
He said the operator was working on marketing plans for 2019 and said due to its relationships with airline partners is able to offer exclusive deals like its £199 per person upgrade with carriers like Air China and its home pick up chauffeur service within a 50 mile radius of the departure airport.
The majority of Wendy Wu tours are now bookable online and agents are being offered additional commission to book online. Sales incentives of £100 per booking are also on offer.